A Matter of Fairness
CBCP Statement on the recent voting in the House of Representatives
ending the debates on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill
It was not supposed to happen. The agreement was to vote on August 7, 2012,
when every side would have been ready and prepared to defend its cause as in any
democratic setting.
Unfortunately, in a move remarkable in its stealth and swiftness, the ruling
group of the House of Representatives, on August 6, 2012, managed to force a
vote that terminated the period of debates on the RH Bill. It came a full day
too soon, just when “no one was looking”. Except for the cabal of schemers,
people were caught off-guard by the suddenness of the execution, especially
those who oppose the Bill on faith or principle.
We are dismayed by the display of naked power. We lament the unilateral
disregard of prior agreement in the pursuit of selfish goals. We detest the
unbridled resort to foul tactics. We denounce the brazen disregard of the basic
tenets of fair play and attempt to railroad the passage of the Bill. Not least,
we question the surrender of legislative discretion to an intrusive President,
reminiscent of the events leading to the impeachment proceedings.
The Catholic Church and those who are similarly minded ask for nothing more
than fairness. After all, we have as much right to expose the dangers and ills
of the Bill as those who promote it. So much is at stake in this fight for life:
protection of women’s health against harmful contraceptives; preservation of
parental authority over minor children; protection of the youth against
valueless sex education; wrongful discrimination of the poor; wasteful
disbursement of billions of pesos for contraceptives while many of the poor die
of cancer, tuberculosis, dengue and other ailments without the benefit of
medicine; suppression of dissent and civil liberties through threatened
imprisonment and gradual annihilation of the Philippine race through systematic
reduction of maternal fertility rate.
In the face of a well-funded campaign to have the RH Bill passed as
envisioned by foreign institutions, and despite the undeserved attacks it is
reaping, the Catholic Church stands firm in its resolve to fight this deadly
measure at every turn and no matter the cost ― all for love of God, flock, and
country.
We commend the bravery and dedication of legislators who continue to resist
the Bill even at the risk of retaliation from the powers-that-be. To them go our
blessing and the gratitude of the faithful. Their courageous and patriotic acts
will be remembered long after the last debate had been waged and the final vote
had been cast.
Finally, we urge all devoted Catholics to unite against the Bill. Intensify
your prayers and let your voices be heard and your actions seen against this
deadly measure. Truth is on our side. Developed countries with dwindling
population are beginning to realize the folly of population control, and some,
like Singapore, regret having adopted it. Most importantly, the Bill’s anti-life
features go against our Constitution, our treasured traditions and the basic
teachings of the Catholic Church as enunciated years ago by Pope Paul VI and
Blessed John Paul II.
For and in behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,
+ JOSE S. PALMA, D.D.
Archbishop of Cebu & President, CBCP
13 August 2012
